Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man, Volume 4 ANNOTATION
One of Marvel Comics most recognizable and best-loved superheroes, Spider-Man appears in three comic books with a monthly circulation of over one million, is syndicated in over 500 newspapers, with a readership of over 100 million, and was the star of 2002's biggest box-office smash (starring Tobey Maguire as the wall-crawling Peter Parker). Original.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Introduction by Stan Lee
I've a confession to make!
In order to write these seemingly endless introductions to our much-vaunted Marvel Masterworks series, I've had to re-read the stories that we're so
generously reprinting to refresh my memory so that I'll know what I'm writing about —which, for me, is the exception rather than the rule! But that's not the confession.
What I'm confessing to is, every time I re-read one of these now-ancient tales, I'm amazed at how wonderful they are! Since I've completely forgotten them during the ensuing few decades, it's as though I'm discovering them for the first time, and let me be the first to admit it — I've become a bigger Steve Ditko fan with each new reading!
While I wrote the dialogue and the captions and tried to inject whatever personality I could into the yarns, the basic story structure itself was, for the most part, fashioned by the dazzling talent of Mr. Ditko. As you read each and every now-classic adventure, you'll notice for yourself how every little subplot weaves in and out of each episode, embellishing the main theme and finally becoming a major part of the later story lines. The more you study the delicate fabric of each tale, the more you have to admire the subtle skill and meticulous planning that Steve brought to each and every installment.
As for the stories themselves, you've really got some rare treats in store.
During this period in Spidey's career, our hero was deeply enmeshed in a romantic situation with the lovely Betty Brant, a relationship that seemed doomed from the start. As fate agonizingly draws them further and further apart, we'll meet a dramatic new love interest, a girl destined to play a major role in Peter's life, the stunning, star-crossed Gwen Stacy.
You'll also be on hand when Peter enrolls in Empire State University where Harry Osborn will become a very important figure in our unfolding saga as we gradually learn more and more about the startling secret of Harry's father.
Aunt May, too, figures dramatically throughout the series, as does Jonah Jameson. After all, Spidey without Jonah would be like rock without roll!
And just look at the roster of super-villains we've got lined up for you—
For starters, our friendly neighborhood wall-crawler has to battle the Master Planner and his gang of masked killers! This is the episode, too, where ol' webhead first meets gorgeous Gwen. Next, we segue into everybody's favorite frenetic friend, the ever-deadly Doc Ock! We even have a great cameo performance by a certain Dr. Connors, whom you may know as—the Lizard!
Then comes one of the most famous five-page sequences in the history of comicdom. This one alone is worth the price of the book—any book! It's where Spidey is pinned down by tons of fallen steel and, unless he frees himself, Aunt
May's a goner! We can promise you'll never forget our hero's epic struggle and the brilliant way it was depicted by Steve Ditko!
After that, Kraven the Hunter returns, more determined than ever to defeat his web-spinning foe. Then, before you can catch your breath, we follow up with the menace of the Molten Man, the Looter and rampaging Robot! While all that's going on, the mysterious Frederick Foswell figures more and more importantly in our strange and startling series. Identically, you'll also encounter one of my favorite bits of Parkerian dialogue when Peter, shunned as usual on campus, unhappily mutters, "Boy, if unpopularity ever became popular, I'd be top man around here!"
For a change of pace, our next story is entitled "Just a Guy Named Joe" and I guarantee you won't read many tales like this one in comics, or anywhere else for that matter. While all the razzmatazz is going on, we learn that Harry Osborn's
father is plotting some sort of nameless evil. As for Peter, he almost has his first meeting with Mary Jane Watson; but notice I said "almost!"
Hang on to your hats now, heroes, because it's time for the grim and gruesome Green Goblin to make the scene in an unforgettable two-issue epic in which we finally learn Gobby's true identity! And, of equal importance, our Goblin episodes herald the arrival of a terrific new talent upon the art scene. When, with thirtyeight issues of terrific creativity under his belt, Steve Ditko elected to give up the Spidey strip and seek new worlds to conquer, luck was with us in the person of the great John Romita who took over the illustrating chores and helped bring our
amazing arachnid to even greater heights of artistic glory! It's comic book history in the making, and you're there to see it!
Well, since I don't want to tire you out before you have a chance to get to the heavy stuff, this is as good a time as any to end my ponderous little prﾽcis and wish you good reading! You're really gonna enjoy the pages that lie ahead; I should know—I've been there!
Excelsior!
SYNOPSIS
Introduction By Stan Lee
Let's face it. Writing an intro to this third volume of Spidey's earliest sagas is like writing an intro to Grimm's Fairy Tales. I mean, what can I write that you don't already know?
However, the Marvel Bullpen left these two pages to be filled, and nobody, but nobody, wants to get the Bullpen mad! So kick off your shoes and get comfortable as we see if we can get in the mood together for the fun and frolic that awaits us on the pages ahead.
We're layin' eleven feature-length Spidey classics on you, all illustrated and co-plotted by the incredibly talented Steve Ditko. And if you want to know just how talented he really is, bear in mind that even today, many years later when styles and tastes have changed incalculably, Steve's unique illustrations, action sequences and sense of pacing are just as breathtakingly impressive now as they were in those halcyon days of yore.
As for the stories themselves, I think you'll find a few unexpected treats among them. For example, in issue #23, Peter grows increasingly jealous of the relationship between Ned Leeds and Betty Brant, though he hasn't too much time to worry about it since he becomes involved in a never-to-be-forgotten battle with the Green Goblin. And let us not forget ex-gang leader Frederick Foswell, formerly known as "The Big Man." Not only is he now out of jail, but Jonah Jameson has hired him as a reporter! Looks like Spidey will have a lot to keep him busy.
As for the subsequent issues, you'll see Spidey turning to a psychiatrist for help after he becomes convinced he may be going mad! And wait'll you learn who the mysterious shrink himself turns out to be. Next, our hero has to battle a seemingly indestructible robot, and if that isn't bad enough, the deadly mechanical marauder is actually controlled by the sneering, leering J. Jonah Jameson himself! You'll also get your first encounter with marvelous Mary Jane, though neither you nor Peter will yet catch a glimpse of her.
The next two issues deal with the fact that both the Crime-Master and the Green Goblin know each other's identities, but Frederick Foswell has one sinister secret of his own! Peter and Flash finally come to blows, and Gobby actually captures our hero. Then the action really starts!
Finally we learn Foswell's secret as well as the secret of the Crime-Master, who dies before our eyes.
But, since Marvel never wants a True Believer to feel he or she has been short-changed, we've added two classic tales to make sure your plate of thrills and action is overflowing. You'll encounter the menace of The Molten Man and see Spidey try to figure out how to defeat a villain who's far stronger than he. He'd better figure it out fast, too, because his life is on the line. Then, our hero finally graduates high school and heads for a new life at Empire State University. But Fate still has surprises up her sleeve. Suddenly, the murderous Scorpion appears and wouldn't you know it, Jameson suspects that Scorpy is Spidey's partner! But you'll get a kick out of seeing what happens to Jolly Jonah as the action accelerates!
You may wonder what Marvel could possibly do to top the bedazzlement we've already placed before you, but leave it to us! For a rollicking, rocketing, riveting bonus we've included a tale from the Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2 entitled "The Wondrous World of Doctor Strange!" And hey, when you consider the fact that our rather unique villain, a nefarious necromancer named Xandu, sends Spidey to an unknown dimension in his battle to recover the mystic Wand of Watoomb, you've got to admit we're in for an adventure that's slightly out the ordinary; especially since Dr. Strange himself joins the battle in one of Steve Ditko's weirdest and wildest fantasy fight-fests!
And, by the time you turn the final page, if you're still panting for more, no-sweat-our next Masterwork will soon be hurtlin' your way!
EXCELSIOR!
Art & Photography
Book Info
